Colter Slade.And now that I think about it, his name does ring a bell.
It’s time for a tidy-up, so I step into the ensuite. When I glance in the mirror, I gasp at the horrendous reflection staring back at me.
“Holy heavens! I look hideous.”
No wonder Colt’s bandmates laughed and dug each other in the ribs. My hair is in a ponytail, but it looks more like a bird’s nest. And my face, well, no words can describe the size of the appalling bags under my eyes. That, plus the red and puffiness, makes me look like I’ve had a severe allergic reaction to something horrifying.
I sigh and wash my face with cool water, knowing it’s too late to do anything now. It’s not like I can book a day spa appointment and have them fix the problem.
So, I contemplate what to do next.
Maybe I should shower and wash away last night’s disaster. So I take off my pajamas, wrap a towel around myself, and return to the ensuite.
Knock. Knock.
Figures there would be someone at the door right now.
Bollocks!
Wrapping my towel firmly around me, I move over to the door and crack it open just a bit, peeking out.
“Hi, I was… wait! Are you wearing a towel?” Colt inquires as I try to cover myself reasonably unsuccessfully with the door.
“Um… maybe,” I reply, watching as a mischievous grin creeps across his face while he looks me up and down. Feeling embarrassed, I push myself further to the side to hide behind the door, and he chuckles.
“Yeah, so anyway… I was wondering if you’d like to come to dinner with the band and the Slayettes tonight before the show?”
I look at him in complete confusion, “What’s… the… S-Slayettes?”
“Yeah… that’s a tough one to define.” He chuckles. “I guess they’re groupies, but Dingo and Johnny’s chicks keep them in line. They follow us around, and we just, well… we let them.” The last few words shoot out quickly as Colt shrugs.
I have nothing to add, so I nod.
He looks me up and down again.
I wish he’d stop doing that.
I don’t know if it makes me uncomfortable or compels me to want to drop my towel and rip his shirt off.
But then, for no apparent reason, the emotion of my world being turned upside down washes over me, and a wave of anguish crashes full speed into my heart. I do my best to show my perfect-good-girl side, as I have been forced to do my whole life.
“No matter what or how you feel, you will never show that on the outside.”My mummy’s words slam into me.“We must always display a stiff upper lip, be stoic, and face adversity with self-restraint.”Just thinking about her words, I know how disappointed she would be in me.
I’m brought back to the moment when Colt says, “Good, I’m glad. Spending time with you will be great without all the tears and ice cream.” He eyes me once more with a smirk, then walks off.
I close the door and smile for the briefest of seconds, then make my way to wash off the stains of my life-changing breakup.
Last night, my world had ended.
But in the light of today, I somehow feel a sense of freedom.
Today, I’m going to relax in my suite and watch movies, letting the worries and emotions of last night remain there.In doing so, I surprise myself with how I’m feeling—a sense of excitement about the new possibilities and adventures I can have. Of course, I will have to tell Daddy that his I-Can-Do-No-Wrong Joseph broke it off, but that’s not a conversation I’m willing to have any time soon.
The day goes by quickly, and a glance at the time tells me I’ve been lying around long enough and need to get ready.
For dinner with Colt tonight, I’ll go with simple, easy, and comfortable—jeans and a tank top with a little cardigan. I pull on my trusty Converse sneakers and walk into the ensuite to do something with my face. With a sigh, I apply makeup—attempting to cover up the mistakes of my past four years—and finish applying mascara just in time.
A knock at my door alerts me to answer, so I quickly gather up my purse and cell phone. When I open the door, there’s a short woman who, if I had to guess, is maybe five feet. Her hair is ink-black with purple streaks, so short it sticks out everywhere.
